International law firm McDermott Will & Emery LLP today announced the appointment of Brian M. Gaff as a partner in the Firm’s Boston office.
With both an undergraduate and advanced degree in electrical engineering in addition to his J.D., Mr. Gaff brings the deep technical skills and strong patent litigation capabilities necessary to successfully litigate today’s increasingly complex intellectual property (IP) matters around the world.
Mr. Gaff, who previously served as a partner in a top AmLaw 100 firm, has wide-ranging experience in all aspects of IP litigation, particularly patent litigation, at both the appellate and district court levels. As part of his growing practice, he also has experience handling the preparation and prosecution of U.S. and foreign patent applications and often assists clients with patent portfolio development and licensing. In addition, he has extensive experience in the mediation and arbitration of IP disputes as well as significant experience with patent reexaminations before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
He has argued before the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and, at the trial level, handled Markman hearings, evidentiary and dispositive hearings, motion practice, and discovery. Given his extensive background as a practicing electrical engineer for over sixteen years with Hewlett-Packard Co., Siemens, and MIT-Draper Laboratory, Mr. Gaff has particular expertise in the electrical and software arts, with an emphasis on digital circuitry and semiconductor design and fabrication. He also brings deep technical capabilities in the fields of optical technologies, energy storage devices, imaging/remote sensing technologies, and medical devices. Mr. Gaff is a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and is the author of a monthly column in Computer, the flagship magazine of the IEEE’s Computer Society.
“We are delighted to welcome Brian to our experienced team of IP litigators in Boston,” said Sarah Chapin Columbia, partner and head of the Firm’s Intellectual Property Litigation Practice Group. “With the increasing number of highly technical intellectual property cases being filed around the country today, Brian’s experience and knowledge of electrical engineering will substantially enhance our ability as a Firm to service our clients. His background in both law and engineering will serve as a true asset and we look forward to working with Brian to build a formidable practice in Boston, and beyond.”
Mr. Gaff is admitted to practice in California, Massachusetts, New York, and New Hampshire, and before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. In addition to his U.S. bar admissions, he is licensed as a Solicitor in England and Wales.
He received his J.D., magna cum laude, from Suffolk University Law School, a Master of Science degree as well as a Bachelor of Science degree, magna cum laude, both in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
